25 years ago, late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping made an important speech. He advocated sending more Chinese abroad to study. Today, the decision has paid off. Tens of thousands of returned students are now contributing greatly to the country's economic and social development. On Saturday, the Chinese Embassy in Washington held a gathering of Chinese scholars and students to commemorate the policy－setting speech.
The Chinese ambassador to the US, Yang Jiechi, says the 25 years of experience shows Deng Xiaoping's speech has been of great significance to China's reform and opening up, as well as to its modernization drive.
Returned students are engaged in political, economic and cultural areas and are a vital force in contributing to the nation's economic and social progress, as well as the increased exchanges between China and foreign countries.
Chinese Ambassador to the US Yang Jiechi said, "Overseas Chinese students, whether they have returned to China or stayed abroad, have all made their own contributions to the prosperity of the motherland. This is what Deng Xiaoping's speech has achieved."
Yang Jiechi expressed the hope Chinese students in the US will study hard and work to promote exchanges and cooperation between the two countries, and make greater contributions to China.
(CCTV.com June 2, 2003)
